Mental health is connected to physical health. Those who struggle with substance abuse typically have mental health issues. Too often, these mental health issues are undiagnosed, or a person needs a more precise diagnosis.
Clients seeking addiction treatment programs at Solution Based Treatment & Detox are expected to engage in regular counseling sessions as part of their personalized treatment plan. Therapy helps those in treatment address the core issues that led to addiction in the first place. Counseling also helps those in recovery learn life skills, strategies, and coping mechanisms with real-world applications that can help them stay sober. To learn more about the connection between mental health and addictions, reach out to us today at 833.999.1941 to learn more about addiction treatment.
The Connection Between Addiction and Mental Health
Is addiction a mental health issue? The majority of those with substance use disorders struggle with their mental health. Often, people with addictions have undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues. In many instances, those stuck in the cycle of abuse require a dual diagnosis to receive proper treatment. A dual diagnosis may also aid clients in stopping self-medication behaviors.
Co-occurring addictions and mental health disorders are prevalent. Disorders associated with addiction may include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic disorders
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Personality disorders
If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction and you believe they may benefit from a mental health assessment, we encourage you to reach out today for more information.
Why Do People Develop Addictions?
While it’s true that not everyone who experiments with drugs or alcohol will develop an addiction, it’s essential to remember that many factors are involved in how addiction works.
Long-term abuse of drugs or alcohol dramatically increases the likelihood of developing an addiction. Over time, a person misusing addictive substances develops a tolerance for them. As a result, they need more of a substance to feel normal, let alone a sense of euphoria or other potentially desirable effects. Once tolerance is established, a person will spend more time and attention focused on their habit. Keeping up this habit and avoiding withdrawal symptoms leads to a cycle of abuse.
Some individuals are more susceptible than others to abusing substances and developing addictions. Risk factors that can contribute to addiction and mental health issues include the following:
- A family history of addiction
- A family history of mental health disorders
- Living in an impoverished household or community
- Lack of income
- Food insecurity
- Employment issues
- Financial problems
- Legal issues
Genetics can play a role, as well as a person’s environment throughout their life.
How Addiction Changes the Brain
A person who has developed a substance abuse disorder is more likely to develop mental health issues. Those with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health issues may turn to substances as a way of self-medicating. Over time, prolonged abuse of drugs and alcohol makes problems worse.
Tolerance, withdrawal, and the cycle of abuse take a toll on mental health. It does not help that as addiction develops, dependence and addiction change the way the brain functions. A person may find that they no longer feel pleasure while engaging in activities that once brought joy. The effect of cocaine addiction is a typical example of how an addictive substance hijacks the brain’s pleasure receptors.
Why It’s Important to Break the Stigma of Seeking Help
The stigma surrounding mental health issues and seeking mental health treatment remains a problem in many communities. Society must come to terms with the reality and importance of mental health. Mental health needs to be treated as equal in importance to physical health. After all, people readily talk about the mind-body connection.
Breaking the stigma surrounding receiving mental health treatment will prevent many from turning to drugs and alcohol as a way of self-soothing. When people are denied sensible options, they turn to whatever coping mechanisms are available.
At Solution Based Treatment & Detox, we take pride in treating all our clients with the respect and dignity they deserve. Our mental health counselors are eager to help you address your substance abuse and learn to understand better the core issues that led to your behaviors.
Contact SBT About Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Today
Therapy is a terrific way to improve your overall well-being and outlook. Counseling is essential to keeping people in recovery on the track to lasting sobriety.
At Solution Based Treatment & Detox, we know it can be challenging to address a problematic past. Learning to face your trauma and deal with the issues that led to your addiction is integral to learning how to begin to move forward. In recovery, you should expect to continue a regular mental health treatment regimen so that a therapist can ensure you remain on the right track and notice red flags if you are struggling to stay sober.
Reach out to SBT today at 833.999.1941 to learn more about the importance of mental health when addressing substance abuse and addiction. Contact us at 833.999.1941 to speak with a trained representative who can tell you more about our addiction treatment programs.